The Sarasota/Bradenton apartment sector posted strong revenue growth through much of 2011. But with an economy remaining in weak shape, a cool down seemed inevitable – and signs of one emerged in 2012’s 2nd quarter.

While occupancy in Northern New Jersey’s apartment market almost always is very tight, the area has a tendency to underperform many other locales in terms of rent growth. Right now, however, there’s notable momentum in apartment rents.

Sacramento’s economy has really struggled in the past few years, and that’s made it difficult for the apartment sector to gain much momentum. And in 2nd quarter 2012, no major market performed worse than Sacramento.

The gap in rent growth levels has become unusually large between the nation’s primary and secondary markets – even though occupancy rates and job growth numbers are similar. What is fueling that trend?

Across many U.S. metros, apartment properties in or adjacent to downtown rank among the strongest performers right now. That’s certainly true in metro Chicago, with the pattern seen especially in the robust rent growth posted in The Loop.